ABC Suspends Jimmy Kimmel Live Indefinitely Over Charlie Kirk Death Remarks

Jimmy Kimmel Disney/Randy Holmes

Los Angeles, CA – September 17, 2025 - In a stunning escalation of the fallout from conservative activist Charlie Kirk's assassination, ABC announced Wednesday that it is pulling Jimmy Kimmel Live! off the air "indefinitely" following host Jimmy Kimmel's remarks linking the suspected killer to President Donald Trump's MAGA movement.The decision, which came hours after threats from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and pre-emptions by major ABC affiliates, has ignited a fierce debate over free speech, media accountability, and political censorship in a deeply polarized America.

Kimmel, 57, made the comments during his opening monologue on Monday, September 15—five days after Kirk's fatal shooting at Utah Valley University."We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it," Kimmel said, also mocking Trump's pivot from mourning Kirk to discussing a new White House ballroom. The remarks, viewed by an estimated 1.8 million viewers that night, quickly drew backlash from conservatives who accused Kimmel of spreading misinformation about suspect Tyler Robinson's politics.

Charlie Kirk, the 31-year-old founder of Turning Point USA—a conservative group that mobilized young voters for Trump's 2024 reelection—was gunned down on September 10 during a campus event in Orem, Utah. The attack, which left Kirk with fatal wounds to the chest and abdomen, has been charged to 22-year-old Tyler Robinson. Robinson faces aggravated murder charges and could receive the death penalty.

Kirk's death has triggered a national reckoning on political violence, with Trump vowing to root out "left-wing extremism" and designating Antifa a terrorist organization earlier this week. Memorials, including a Capitol Hill service attended by House Speaker Mike Johnson, have portrayed Kirk as a "warrior for freedom," while his organization reported a surge in donations exceeding $5 million in the first 48 hours.

ABC's suspension was preceded by swift action from affiliates. Nexstar Media Group, which owns or operates 32 ABC stations, announced it would pre-empt Jimmy Kimmel Live! "for the foreseeable future," citing Kimmel's comments as "offensive and insensitive at a critical time in our national political discourse." Nexstar President Andrew Alford emphasized that the remarks did not reflect "the spectrum of opinions, views, or values of the local communities."

Sinclair Broadcast Group, the largest ABC affiliate owner with stations in 30 markets, followed suit, halting airings "until further notice" and demanding Kimmel apologize directly to Kirk's family while making a "meaningful personal donation" to Turning Point USA. Sinclair plans to air a one-hour tribute special to Kirk in Kimmel's Friday night slot, offering it to all ABC affiliates nationwide.

The tipping point came from FCC Chair Brendan Carr, a Trump appointee, who blasted Kimmel's monologue as "the sickest conduct possible" during an interview on conservative podcaster Benny Johnson's show. Carr warned that broadcasters' FCC licenses carry an "obligation to operate in the public interest," hinting at potential regulatory action against Disney-owned ABC. Democratic FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez condemned Carr's threats as overreach, while President Trump celebrated the suspension on Truth Social: "The ratings challenged Jimmy Kimmel Show is CANCELLED. Congratulations to ABC for finally having the courage to do what had to be done."

Kimmel had condemned the shooting on Instagram the day it happened, writing, "Instead of the angry finger-pointing, can we just for one day agree that it is horrible and monstrous to shoot another human?" and sending "love" to Kirk's family. Representatives for Kimmel, who has hosted his show since 2003 and earned 16 Emmys, could not be reached for comment, but sources say he has not been fired—Disney executives plan to discuss his return and on-air statement.

Civil liberties groups weighed in heavily. The ACLU's Christopher Anders called it "the Trump administration’s unconstitutional plan to silence its critics," warning of broader threats to media independence.On the right, figures like Steve Bannon demanded crackdowns on universities, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered probes into service members who mocked Kirk's death.High-profile firings, including Washington Post columnist Karen Attiah for "racial double standards" comments on Kirk, underscore the chilling effect.

Experts question the FCC's leverage. While foreign terrorist designations are straightforward, domestic speech regulations tread on First Amendment ground, per a Congressional Research Service analysis.Carr's comments echo Trump's first-term pressures on media, including lawsuits against outlets like The New York Times.Internationally, outlets like the BBC and The Guardian framed it as evidence of eroding press freedom under Trump.

This isn't isolated: MSNBC faced calls for license revocation over post-shooting remarks implying Kirk "brought it on himself," and ABC's Kyra Phillips highlighted Kirk's "controversial" views on DEI and minorities.

Kirk's assassination, the first high-profile political killing since the 2024 campaign, has amplified calls for unity amid division. Trump suggested NBC cancel The Tonight Show and Late Night next, while Gavin Newsom decried "no such thing as free speech under Donald Trump’s reign." For Kimmel, the indefinite hiatus—potentially costing millions in lost ad revenue—marks a precarious moment in late-night TV's evolution.

ABC has not set a return date. A spokesperson confirmed the pre-emption but offered no further details.